The hotel associations of the Canary Islands -Ashotel, FEHT, Asolan and Asofuer− have made available to their associated establishments a travel assistance insurance to provide express coverage of travel assistance to tourist accommodation companies in the event of possible cases of COVID-19 after the reopening of the hotel sector, once the state of alarm has ended. "The insurance has been designed 'ad hoc' for this specific circumstance and is one of the most competitive on the market," they say from the employers' association.
According to a statement, the insurers Sanza and ARAG have been working in recent weeks "side by side" with the hotel associations of the Archipelago to design this 'Canary Islands Tourism 2020' insurance, "with the aim of obtaining the best possible product at the best price, given the economic uncertainties that threaten the sector." "The ultimate goal is none other than to provide security to the tourist and the receiving hotelier," they point out.
The Canary Islands hotel associations understand that "one of the key aspects to take into account in the new tourist normality to which we are heading in the hotel reopening processes is the generation of customer confidence". "This confidence comes not only from the implementation of specific hygiene and safety measures in the establishment, but from the fact that the customer knows that both he and his family will be taken care of at all times," they add.
Guarantees and coverages
The designed product includes a series of guarantees and coverages, such as medical and health assistance; medical teleconsultation and video consultation service; repatriation of the sick and other insured persons; repatriation in case of death; travel of a family member or companion in case of hospitalization; convalescence of the insured or companion in a hotel; early return due to death or hospitalization of a family member; early return due to serious accident in the insured's home or business; reimbursement of unused vacations; loss of contracted services due to hospitalization; and sending a professional driver.
The contract is made for an initial period of six months, renewable, which they say "is an advantage over annual subscription policies, given the changing situation generated by the pandemic." "This avoids that, in the event of the appearance of a treatment or vaccine in a period of 6 months, it is not necessary to remain linked to the policy," he says.
Sanza and ARAG responded this Tuesday in a videoconference to the associates of the four Canary Islands hotel associations to all the questions and doubts that arose, as well as clarified all the details of the policy.